§ Mr. KINGasked the Home Secretary whether, when George Tchitcherine left London on the evening of 3rd January, a number of friends and sympathisers were allowed on the railway platform to bid him farewell; and why he refused to the hon. Member for North Somerset the permission to see Mr. Tchitcherine off at the railway station?
§ Sir G. CAVENo permission was given by me for anyone to see Tchitcherine at the railway station, and it is not the case that I refused such permission to the hon. Member.
§ Mr. KINGasked on what date the first intimation was given to Mr. George Tchitcherine in Brixton Prison that he would be returned to Russia; who were the persons who made this communication to him; whether it was made in writing or verbally; and why Mr. Tchitcherine was not allowed to take any of his papers. books, or other property away to Russia?
§ Sir G. CAVEThe intimation to Tchitcherine was made verbally by police officers on the 2nd January. It is not the case that he was prevented from taking any of his papers, books, or other property to Russia with him. On the contrary, special arrangements were made to permit of his taking papers and books, but I understand that advantage was not taken of these arrangements. No obstacle was placed in the way of his taking other property.
§ Mr. KINGasked the Home Secretary whether he permitted the right hon Member for Barnard Castle to visit Mr. George Tchitcherine in Brixton Prison; 688W whether Mr. Tchitcherine requested that this visit should be permitted; whether the right hon. Member for Barnard Castle applied for permission to see Mr. Tchitcherine in the prison; and what reason can be given for refusing a like permission to the hon. Member for North Somerset, whom Mr. Tchitcherine desired to see, and who, unlike the right hon. Member for Barnard Castle, was an old personal friend of Mr. Tchitcherine?
§ Sir G. CAVEThe answer to the first and third parts of the question is in the affirmative and to the second in the negative. As to the rest of the question, I regret that I can only say that I had found it necessary at an earlier date to refuse the hon. Member permission to visit Tchitcherine in internment, and I thought it right to maintain that refusal.